Chunky Pandey speaks to SHAlINI SAKSENA on why Housefull is so popular, his stint with Bangladeshi cinema and his comeback to Bollywood
What makes theHousefull series so popularIJ
When Sajid Khan designed the series, he did it with the heart of a five-year-old. I said heart, and not brain, and he got a lot of support from Sajid Nadiadwala. Both the director and the producer have quirky ideas. Every person has a five-year-old hiding somewhere in him and he would like to do stupid and funny things. This is what makes the series so popular among viewers. People love to laugh.
How did Akhri Pasta become so popularIJ
Sajid Khan and I are childhood buddies. But this was the first time that I was working with Nadiadwala. When I read the character I loved the punchlines. I knew that there was something here that would make Akhri Pasta popular. What I never realised was that Akhri Pasta would become so popular that people would start using the punchline on me. It happened in Dubai right after the firstHousefull movie was released. I reached the airport a couple of hours early and when I went to the counter, to check-in my baggage, she looked straight in the eye and said: ‘I am sorry sir, but you have missed your flight’. I was aghast. I said but it is not possible and I started to argue with her. That’s when she smiled and said: ‘I am a joking’. So I became like a ‘joke Bond’ where I had a licence to say anything. We both ended up laughing. That’s when I realised how popular I had become because of Akhri Pasta.
Did you always want to actIJ
Obviously I don’t look like a born actor. Actually I wanted to be a doctor. Both my parents are one. So it followed that I become one too. But then, the ‘D’ disappeared and the ‘O’ was replaced by the ‘A’. I changed my line and decided to be an actor. And though my parents were taken aback by my choice of a career, my father said that if I trained to be an actor I would do well. I was 20 at that time. I trained for the next three years and was lucky that my first few films did so well.
You got success fast in your career. Did it change you as a personIJ
No, not really. The only thing that changes is that you become wise; that happens as you grow older. The basic persona doesn’t change. It took me around three-and-a-half years to get a break. I tried my hand at a number of things. I did modelling, I tried video films but was rejected there, tried TV shows and was rejected there as well. But then I got my first movie and I was lucky that it was such a blockbuster. Ups and downs are part and parcel of life so one has to accept them.
You disappeared in the 90s. Where did you goIJ
I took that time to get married and have kids. Actually, I went to Bangladesh. A friend of mine suggested that I come there and do a few films. I did a few films there and all of them were successful. But then my wife told me that I was known because of Bollywood so I decided to come back in 1998. But then I found that there was an entire generation change which was a bit of a shock.
Did it shock you that you had no work and had to convince people to give you workIJ
Definitely. There were so many new faces. I had to convince people that I was the same person — same Chunky Pandey. I did a few films. When I would shoot, kids would walk up to me and ask ‘uncle aap actorhoIJ Kya naam hai apkaIJ’ I would tell them do go ask their mum since I knew they would have never seen me but the parents would have. Then Apna Sapna Money Money happened. It changed things for me.
How important is it for an actor to reinvent himselfIJ
It is very important for an actor to reinvent himself. But more important is that an actor should be able to change the kind of roles he does. When you are young you get stuck in stardom. There was a time when I had long hair. One should change oneself from time to time. See how Akshay Kumar has changed himself; see his movie Rustom. It is brilliant.
Has Bollywood been nice to youIJ
I should probably take them to court for not giving me work (laughs). I would have loved to get more work. But sometimes I feel less is more. But today, I am happy. I want something to make an impact rather than do many movies.
How has Hindi cinema changedIJ
To be honest, I think comedy is running out of steam in Bollywood; it has reached saturation point because there is much better comedy on TV. I would call this the golden period of Bollywood.
What are your upcoming projectsIJ
I am in talks for another film. I have auditioned for foreign TV show. let’s see how things go from here on.
Is there too much hype on our actors doing Hollywood projectsIJ
It doesn’t matter what platform you are on — whether Hollywood or for that matter Bangladesh. Cinema is cinema whatever language it may be in.
Housefull 3 premiers on Star Gold today 1 pm